Powerful Time Tracking in Notion with Buttons and Automations

[@timjeffries-thegoodcup]

How good are those buttons! This was a key use case for me for database buttons, great to see you nailing their usage here. Love your work here mate.

[@WilliamNutt]

Thanks a million, Tim 💪

[@AniazWeboweStudio]

Hi, I bought a template. I have a problem with the main function, i.e. "Creat Time Entry" - it doesn't work. The button is inactive and after entering "Edit Property", the button settings are also inactive and cannot be modified in any way. What could this be about?

[@WilliamNutt]

Thanks so much. Sorry for the trouble. That's a Notion bug. Please email [e-mail]. (Their chat support is garbage.)

[@MartinSchabbauer]

Love the function and bought the Template. :) > Question: Is there any suggested way to adjust timestamps in an entry? For example if one forgets to Start / Stop a Timer. Personally, I see the need for this arising on day one of use. ;)

[@WilliamNutt]

Great feedback. Rather than a "Created time" property, it could use a "Date" property that defaults to the current time. Then it could be manually overridden.

[@MartinSchabbauer]

Ah, yes - that's a good idea. Another way could be to create a new Property (Manual Time Entry) and create an IF statement: IF "Manual Time Entry" is empty the use the existing formula - IF "Manual Entry" has a value: use this time entry to calculate timer. @@WilliamNutt

[@WilliamNutt]

Definitely. I aim to minimize the number of properties.

[@MartinSchabbauer]

I tried this suggested way and it works perfectly. Much better than creating an extra property with a more complex formula. @@WilliamNutt

[@macmeister]

​@@WilliamNutt Thanks for the time entry addition to our purchase! The minimal properties is fantastic, however manual entries is how I also log daily (i.e. 6 interruptions for 1 task, end of day log 2hrs for Project X). Please consider a tweak for the rest of us. I used Toggl in this way before I started using Notion years ago. Thanks for the great tools and all the behind the scenes as well!

[@OpenRoading]

Is there any way to start time tracking for a task (like you did a project), but also add the company as the “client” in the time tracking database??

[@WilliamNutt]

Thanks so much. With these templates, I always need to balance simplicity and capability to serve the broadest cohort of users. In this case, I opted to not to include tasks, but it can be added easily as an additional related database. Just be careful not to included tracked time twice in summaries. If you'd like, feel free to reply to any Notion VIP email for details about my personalized support.

[@NadyaDeAngelis]

At the moment it seems to be impossible to use @Today and @Now as "date when duplicated" and "time when duplicated" in buttons. What about the "Name" field in the Time Entries DB?

[@WilliamNutt]

You can use them on the default template.

[@XeiDaMoKaFE]

I need to track the time of each name page row is with "Status" in "Watching" and pause or subtract when it's in Status "Break"

[@WilliamNutt]

Yes, you can just start and stop the timer.

[@XeiDaMoKaFE]

@@WilliamNutt but not by tag change , only buttons or automations with plus right ? I can't get the timer of when a tag was changed without it disappearing when I change the tag back

[@WilliamNutt]

@@XeiDaMoKaFE Thank you. Sounds like you have a nuanced need. I'd love to help you resolve it via a Zoom workshop. Feel free to reply to any Notion VIP email for consulting information.

[@RustonJohnson]

I bought the template but unfortunately did not get a link or anything to be able to duplicate it. I've checked my email as well and nothing.

[@WilliamNutt]

Thank you. Please search your email for "Your downloads are available from Notion VIP Shop"-should be there, possibly snagged by spam.

[@RustonJohnson]

@@WilliamNutt I apologize for the difficulty. I searched the email I used when purchasing and still don't see it. Is there a way I can contact you privately to share details to see if you see it on your end?

[@WilliamNutt]

@@RustonJohnson If you reply to any Notion VIP email (including the newsletter) from the order address, we'll be happy to resend.

[@Darrell.R]

Does this allow for multiple start and stop times per page?, or is it a single start and stop time? I can imagine a scenarios where I start a task, then pause, and then start it gain. It would be easier to it all on one page instead of duplicating another page.

[@WilliamNutt]

Thanks! Each start/stop logs a new entry, which makes the data more useful. It can always be summarized however you like. You can definitely start, pause, and restart tasks.

[@vitruv88]

how did he make the status text color green and red? o.O

[@WilliamNutt]

The style() function

[@vitruv88]

​@@WilliamNutt niiice, thanks 🙏

[@christianmagill3829]

I have a similar setup, although I have my buttons available on tasks and create new time entries with a start and stop time properties. I'm currently experimenting with starting and stopping them when a tasks status is changed. What benefits do you get from using the timestamp approach? I'm guessing that's what allows you to use a toggle button but not sure if there are other benefits.

[@WilliamNutt]

Thanks so much. I've learned to make these systems as intuitive as possible, and while status-based time-tracking seems most efficient, it heightens cognitive demand. I've also learned not to reinvent the wheel. The most effective systems inevitably recreate apps dedicated to the use case. In the case of time tracking, that's Toggl and Harvest.

[@aranyarox]

Thinking of purchasing this template. Is there any manual time stamping included with the template? Our team is often logging times at a later stage rather than on real time as well incase something has been missed or entered incorrectly. Is there additionally a support email we could contact with any future questions? Thanks,

[@WilliamNutt]

Thanks so much. In the spirit of simplicity, we excluded manual entry from the template, but it could be easily added. That sort of customization is just the sort of work I do through my consulting. Feel free to reply to any Notion VIP email for more info.

[@aranyarox]

@@WilliamNutt Thanks for the update. Unfortunately, we could not find any email or contact form listed on the website. Could you advise where we can find this to reach out? Thanks again

[@WilliamNutt]

@@aranyaroxThank you. You can reply to any email from Notion VIP or submit this form: uno.notion.vip/consulting/

[@carlosfuentes5538]

I love it!

[@WilliamNutt]

Yay!

[@andZmei]

Я еще в прошлое лето когда появились кнопки сделал что-то похожее на это, но в рамках командной работы и у меня 5 связанных баз данных. Мы таким способом трекаем время участников, задач епиков и проектов в целом. То что тут показано это очень облегченная и ограниченная версия...

[@WilliamNutt]

Thank you. Aim for the best balance of simplicity and capability for most users. More proficient users like yourself will certainly benefit from extending it.

[@MartinSchabbauer]

Yes !